3rd House Journal

Merry Month of May

[Tulips at Old South Church, Boston; 5/5/13]

The astro blogs are full of exhortations to slow down and enjoy the pleasures of the Taurus season (April 20 - May 20). Taurus is ruled by Venus, goddess of beauty and pleasure. Taurus is also associated with money and possessions. While beauty is free and abundant around me right now, money is not so much. It's been a slow start to the year, though the past month was disturbingly full of tight deadlines (that was fiery Aries season, everything fast and immediate). I've been able to invoice for a couple of projects, but the payment cycle is slow. That's the other thing about Taurus, the Bull - slow and steady, stubborn and persistent, and mean when pushed - as is Venus, for that matter. Everything in its time.

I have had some bites of new opportunities, including a potential part-time position working for a former colleague who reached out to me last week. It would be good to have some steady income and the chance to get out of the house regularly and work with people again, along with the flexibility to take on interesting freelance work. Maybe the best of both worlds. We'll see.

[At Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont MA; 5/6/13]

[New leaves rising from the dead ones, at Habitat]

Unfortunately, the result of those tight deadlines and other stressful craziness last month has been painful -- as I said, mean when pushed. My neck and shoulder pain, which I've been getting physical therapy for, went through the roof by this weekend. Diligent work on it this week with ice, heat, topical and oral pain meds, sleep, rest, and it's finally getting somewhat under control. I could really use a new/better ergonomic office chair but I can't really afford it right now.

Meanwhile, I'm taking advantage of another break in the work. I went for a lovely walk in the woods at Habitat on Monday, which I haven't been to since January. Spring comes a bit later to the woods, but it has arrived, as evidenced by blossoming mountain laurel and dogwood, fresh green ears of new leaves and unfurling fern fronds, columbine and trillium.

[Trillium at Habitat Sanctuary, Belmont; 5/6/13]

More photos from Habitat in May here.

Spring Arrives in the City

[Back Bay - Prudential, Boston; 4/28/13]

Very busy with work still, but thought I'd post a few photos from this past weekend in Boston. Spring is in full swing now. Even as the early-blooming magnolias are dropping their blossoms, the pear trees and weeping cherries are taking the baton in the blossom relay, and the tulips and daffodils stand up and cheer.

The city was full of people this weekend, partly due to the long awaited spring weather but also because everyone from the city and suburbs wanted to come pay their respects at the Boston Marathon tributes in newly reopened Copley Square. Lorianne posted about it on her blog (she and J were in on Sunday) and I uploaded some photos on my Flickr site from Saturday.

[Copley Square, Boston; 4/27/13

The Public Garden was a little less crowded than Copley, but there were also many people out enjoying the day there and on Boston Common as well.

[Public Garden at Charles and Boylston Sts; 4/28/13]

[Swan Boats on the Lagoon, Pubic Garden; 4/28/13]

We're having a string of sunny days, although the temps are supposed to drop quite a bit on Friday. I have more deadlines, but I should be able to find some time to get out and enjoy it - especially on this first day of May. It will be hard not to...

Earth Day

[Magnolia tree and garden on Comm Ave, Boston; 4/20/13]

I'm out straight with work, but I still appreciated today's sunshine and the tiny pink buds sprouting all over my neighbor's peach tree.* I ran out to the grocery store mid-day and tonight made pasta primavera in honor of spring. I did take time for a short walk around 4:30 to stretch my legs, the brisk air reminding me that it's spring, not summer. It will be barely above freezing tonight, but the growing profusion of flowers and greenery will not be deterred.

*Update: I added that the tree above is a magnolia. The peach tree (not shown) is in my neighbor's yard out here in the 'burbs. :-)

Spring Blog Break

[Flower market, South End Boston; 3/23/13]

Sorry for the dearth of posting. There has either been too much on my plate or on my mind, and in between too much lethargy. It's not that I've worked so much in the last couple of days as I've been getting ready for my trip to sunnier climes, departing bright and early tomorrow morning. Or dull, sleep-deprived, anxious and early as the case will more likely be. I hope to come back rested and refreshed, with a camera full of color. I'm not bringing my laptop, so unless I get into an internet cafe at some point I will not be posting until I've returned. ¡Hasta luego!

And Happy Easter to all those celebrating...

[Outside ChocoLee chocolate shop, Boston; 3/23/13]

[Selling "better candy" on Boylston St, Boston; 3/23/13]

One foot in front of the other

[Steps to the health club (and physical therapy) Thursday am; 3/7/13]

About 8 inches of heavy wet snow was slathered over my car yesterday at 9 am, with snow still falling. Too unwell to get out my camera and appreciate the snow's beauty, I could manage the physical effort -- put shoulder to shovel, one heavy scoop at a time, front steps, back stairs, car, around the car, and enough behind to back up and leave room for D's car should he make it out of the city (he didn't). Then back inside. Three hours or so later came the welcome sounds of my landlord's snowblower. Revived on coffee and Advil, I went back out and helped my landlords and a couple of their neighbors reshovel the additional 6 inches off the steps, back stairs, my car, etc. The snow had stopped falling and it was already starting to melt a bit in the warming air. Shoveling out was short work with 5 people, and actually kinda fun.

So I don't have any pictures this time (but do go see Lorianne's great photo set from the storm). I may get some later when I go into Boston to retrieve D, whose car is blocked in. We're going to a dinner party tonight out my way, but if I can find parking in the city we'll have some time to walk around.

Fresh Air

[Fresh Pond trail, Cambridge MA; 3/5/13]

Things are still in limbo with work, though I continue to have bits and pieces from my former employer, plus a couple of other freelance clients have some work coming up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on a part-time contract position that I think I'd really enjoy. At first it seemed quite off the track I've been on for the past several years, but I did freelance work for the company years back and I always enjoyed it. So I put my hat in the ring and had some good phone conversatons with the manager. Have to wait and see now.

[At Fresh Pond; 3/5/13]

My afternoon was free yesterday, so instead of fretting that I wasn't working I went out to do an errand near Fresh Pond and took a good walk around the pond while there. I should do it more often, at least when I'm not too busy. Fresh air, a good bracing walk, the occasional passing dog-walkers and other strollers, the ubiquitous Canadian geese... even with the dullness of winter still clinging to the trails, it was good for the soul.

[Geese on Little Fresh Pond]

Alas, we are expecting yet another snowstorm tomorrow and into Friday. We had none through December and January, but have made up for it with an ungodly snowy February and here we are in March with more to come. Around Boston and probably even the few miles west where I am, we shouldn't have too much. Forecasts range from 3 inches of slushy wet stuff to possibly 6. It will be warm this weekend, so shouldn't still around for long. 

We are all ready for a change.

Scenes from the Weekend

[Witch hazel, South End, Boston; 3/3/13]

The snow from the blizzard last month is mostly gone. Two feet of snow takes awhile to melt, and we had some added inches and cold weather throughout February keeping it in place. Now there are only dirty, lumpy remains of former snow banks and patches where the sun's warm rays can't quite reach, like an itch in the mid upper back. Soon there will be shoots of crocuses and daffodils everywhere, but for now it's witch hazel heralding the coming of spring. Next weekend, we'll set the clocks ahead and our days will begin to stretch their creaky muscles.

[Birds line up outside Back Bay Station; 3/3/13]

[Crow atop the chimney pots]

On Saturday, I went to a "Tea" that my alumnae club hosted at L'Espalier, one of Boston's fanciest restaurants. The event had been postponed from the day of the blizzard. I'm never entirely comfortable at these things, not close to anyone in the club, but I usually meet interesting people when I do go and end up glad I went. And this time I didn't want to miss out on going to L'Espalier, which I'd never been to and am unlikely to afford otherwise. Plus it's just two blocks from D's place.

The dining room itself was understated if not underwhelming, but the food was excellent and the staff extremely solicitous. It was tea, so there were all the little tea sandwiches -- cucumber and watercress, smoked salmon and creme, a deviled egg -- followed by plates of little fancy pastries. The menu was not for the diabetic! Which I'm not, but I knew all that white flour and sugar would make me light-headed. Anyway, the piece de resistance was a little "roasted guinea hen profiterole with garlic aioli" shaped like, well, more like a swan I think. See photo below.

[Individual pastry plate at L'Espalier's tea party]

I went back to D's wired up from sweets and caffeine which, added to all the stress adreline I've been dealing with lately, rather wiped me out. We napped, then cooked some Trader Joe's salmon dinner and frozen vegetables instead of going out. It may have been frozen dinners, but it was fish and veggies and, along with some good beer, it helped anchor me back on earth. I'd brought my Netflix dvd of Woody Allen's To Rome With Love, which was silly fluff but a nice armchair travel movie.

We got out for brunch on Sunday, and then, since it was reasonably warm (or at least, mostly devoid of chilling wind) we had a nice walk over to the South End and back. Brunch was delicious - we both had the breakfast burrito at the Met Back Bay.

[Breakfast burrito with hash brown potatoes, Met Back Bay]

I seem to be in a space of heightened sensitivity these days, and all too much prey to insecurities, both real (and there are so many real uncertainties in my work and financial life right now) and imagined. I realized this weekend it would probably be wise to start meditating again to have some centering, particularly in this time of flux. My physiatrist, who I'm seeing for painfully overused neck muscles (all that computer work, mainly), recommended it as well -- particularly classes rather than just on my own. Will have to look into it...

Turbidity

[Floating silt curtain, Boston Harbor; 2/23/13]

We went to the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston last Saturday on a whim. An exhibit of art from the 1980s is leaving soon and we'd seen inviting posters around town. The exhibit itself was mostly disappointing, though it left some impressions. It was the time of the AIDS crisis and of Reagan, both inciting artists. There were a few Mapplethorpes, a Basquiat, Koons' inflatable Rabbit. And a lot of what some friends and I who used to often see modern art together referred to as WAS.* As always at the ICA, the building and its surroundings were the most satisfying visually. The gallery overlooking the harbor offered its usual reflections and the waterfront, even on a mild winter's day, was enticing.

[John Hancock Founders Gallery, ICA Boston]

From the gallery windows, we watched the unusual sight of a sailing regatta coming in on the harbor in February. The Boston Sailing Center's Frostbite Racing series keeps its hardy sailors sharp over the winter season.

[Frostbite Racing on Boston Harbor, from the ICA]

I kept finding the orange floating lines in the harbor outside the ICA intriguing. It took some searching online to find out that they're silt curtains, also called turbidity curtains, used to prevent the spread of silt and sediment near the shoreline. I imagine the one at the ICA is there to help keep a certain depth to the area, which has been used the past two summers for diving championships off the roof. 

[Gull and silt curtain]

Perhaps I need a turbidity curtain for my life. Work in particular has been marked by haziness so far this year, muddy with lots of unsettled sediment. But perhaps things are beginning to settle out, at least for the short term. A couple of freelance projects are surfacing. Other possibilities have receded into the murk. An unexpected trip to sunnier climes with friends is also stirring in the mix, bright as the floating curtain. Will report once we've booked, unless I get superstitious.

---

*weird-ass shit

Only 10 more days in February

[Sundresses in a Charles St shop, Boston; 2/10/13]

Last night I dreamed I was in Mexico. Three different friends of mine will be there at one time or another, at one place or another, within the next few weeks, which no doubt put it in my mind. Yesterday morning it snowed again in Boston, although this time not like the 2 feet of heavy, everything-at-a-standstill onslaught of the previous weekend, half of which mercifully melted during the week. This was light, powdery stuff - which sounds lovely until you realize it was blown around by 50 mph wind gusts that made it look (and feel) outside like we were living on some icy planet farther out in the solar system. 

[Snow dervishes, Prudential Center South Garden, Boston; 2/17/13]

Once the snow stopped in the afternoon, we bundled up and walked over to the mall to stretch our legs and get some late afternoon dinner. Apparently Boston got 5 inches of snow, but you wouldn't know it because little of it had settled or attached itself to anything. Instead, it continued in circulation like restless ghosts roaming the nearly empty city streets. In the mall's enclosed garden courtyard, a wind tunnel whipped up spinning white dervishes for our entertainment.

We did enjoy a nice Valentine's dinner on Saturday night at a little bistro not far from D's apartment. It hadn't started snowing, but it was very cold so we dressed warmly - unfortunately so for the tiny packed bistro was extremely toasty inside. But the food was delicious and the cold on the walk home was refreshing, like going out in the snow after a sauna.

Late last week I had a hint from a friend of a possible enticing work opportunity. I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Meanwhile, other possibilities still float in the air like this weekend's restless snow. I expect it'll be awhile yet before anything settles down. One must live in the moment.

[Comm Ave at sunset; 2/17/13]

Snowy morning in the 'burbs

[Out the dining room window, 9 am; 2/16/13]

This morning's snow when I got up was like jingle bell snow, my childhood in New Hampshire snow, snow globe snow, Julie Andrews' favorite things on your nose and eyelashes snow. Not the furious dervish blizzard snow of last weekend. And not the thin, uncooked rice snow of an hour later, just before it stopped. It's said that the Inuits actually have no more words for snow than we do. (But read this hilarious Inuit Words for Snow list.)

It was warm this week -- in the 50s yesterday -- so the mounds of now dirty snow from last weekend have been receding. Snow showers are predicted for tonight, inviting a fresh white blanket to cover the grime (I guess this might be tidtla - snow used for cleaning). We're heading into town, with a reservation at a bistro for our Valentine's dinner. Perhaps we'll make up a new word for the snow that falls while you're walking home holding hands.